Tilting reflector for motor vehicles



H.'L. WATSON.

TILTING REFLECTOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

.APPLICATION msn FEB. 24, 1920.

I6 o' lz .n ZI O l 2'.

I zo if y -n Z4 I4 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

HARVEY L. WATSON, 0F INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO C. lVI. HALL LAMP COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TILTING: REFLECTOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1922-.

Application filed February 24, 1920. Serial No.`360,579.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Ham/EY L. lVATSoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Tilting Reflector for Motor Vehicles; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle headlight with mechanism for tilting` the reflector so as to focus the light rays upon the roadway immediately in front of the vehicle, or straight ahead of the same, as desired.

@ne feature of the invention is the positive action of the same to actuate and maintain the reflector in either position, as desired.

A further feature of the invention is the improved headlight supporting base or structure.

The full nature of this invention will loe understood from the accompanying-drawings and the following description and claims.

ln the drawings 'Fig 1 is a central cross sectional view of the head lamp supporting the tilting mechanism., showing the same in the normal position. F ig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in the tilted position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of F ig. 1.

ln the drawings 10 indicates the usual headlight enclosing casing or hood, and 11 the reflector contained therein. ln the present instance the reflector is pivotally mounted and supported by said hood in any suitable manner. Secured to the lower portion of said pivotally supported reflector is a depending bracket member 12, having` a. portion projecting rearwardy. Positioned beneath said reflector and adjacent thereto upon a suitable bracket or lug `13 supported by and forming` a part of the improved tubular base or clamping and supporting structure 14, is a pivoted bell crank lever 15. One end of said lever is connected to said depending bracket 12 through the link arm 16, the same having bifurcated ends engaging respectively the rearward portion of said depending bracket 12 and the before mentioned end of the bell crank lever.

Means for tilting the reflector comprises a projecting lever 17 rigidly secured to a tilting rod, tube or rock shaft 18 by means of a tapered pin 19. The projecting lever 17 is herein shown positioned between a pair of projecting lugs 20 formed integral with a standard or base supporting bracket 21, the same supporting the post 14, as shown. The supporting tubular shaft 22 extends transversely of said vehicle and is positioned forwardly of the tilting rod 18 and in substantially the same horizontal plane to protect the same from casual injury. The headlight supporting tube and shaft are suitably supported upon the motor vehicle. The tilting rod or rock shaft 18 is provided with a rocking or actuating lever 24, the saine being adjustably secured to the rod by means of the clamping bolt 25a. The other end of the rocking lever is attached to a suitable rocking arm or actuating rod 25, the same extending to the dash of the motor vehicle so as to be readily accessible to the driver of the same.

Since, in the present invention the particular mounting of the tubular shaft is immaterial, but one end portion of the assembly is illust-rated in Fig. 3 for the other end assembly is identical therewith.

Herein shown integral with the base 14 is a projecting portion 26, the same having an opening therein adapted to receive a sleeve or bushingr 27, the same having a threaded exterior. An adjusting nut 28 is adapted to lie adjacent the portion 26 and secure said sleeve in the adjusted position. Extending through said sleeve and slidable longitudinally thereof is au actuating rod or plunger 29, the latter having a head portion 30 adapted to engage the arm portion 31 of the bell crank lever 15, heretofore described. The other end of said plunger 29 is actuated by the projecting or tilting lever 17, the rearwardly extending end thereof being provided with a contact bolt 32 adjustably secured thereto by means of the adjusting nut 33.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the rocking movement initiated by the actuating rod 25 is trans'- CB can lever 17 and plunger 29 to the bell crank lever 15 to tilt the same into the positionshown in Fig.; 2.'. 1When the actuating v'rod 25 is releasedfromsthe positiony shown in Fig. 2 and returned to that shown in Fig. 1, the tilted reflector is returnedito the-posi; tion shown in Fig. 1 spi'iiig 34 having' its opposite ends suitably secured to the supporting lug 13 and the bracket 12. Said spring"also"returns the plunger 29 to .the position. shown in Fig. 1 so that said plunger'willcontact'with the contact bolt 32,' as shown, the downward movement thereof being limited bythe fon ward edge 35 of' thesleeve .27 engaging the head 30, as shown...

As shown in the drawings, the improved structure or headlight` supporting base is stationarily secui'ed in the supporting bracket 21, the same being in turn stationarily secured to .the tubular construction 22 I bysuitablenut means not shown. The base*r 14, in addition to providing the bearing portion 26 'for thetilting plunger, is-previded upon the opposite'side with a forwardly and depending-flange por-tion 3G, 'said flangeV extending through said hood. As shown, said flange is suitably slotted to form the'bifurcated tongue 37 vadapted to receive a pivoted bolt 38, the same secured to said tongue by meansof thumb nut. 39. The latch, comprised of theinembers 3T, 3S andV 39`securelthe forward plate or hinged Vdoor 120 of the hood lto the same inthe locked position: It .will also -be understood that the supporting base oristandard- M issuitably secured to the hood 10, such'that said hood is rigidly. supported thereon.

With the foregoingconstruction it. will be understood ltliatthe headlights may be tilted from. the -normal position of' focusing said light uponthe roadwayimmediately in front of the vehicle to aposition wherein the light .rays are projected forwardly andmember including` a standard portiony forv supporting a casing, a portionvfor detachf' ably securing thezclosure tothe casing,.and a. portion for supporting the -tiltingineans 2. Inl a lamp constructiomthe combina-v. tion of azlampcasing, areiiector .pivotally' supported therein, a` bellcrank jpivotallysupported in said casing, a link inember,;op

eratively connecting one endfof `said ...bell

crank., and reflector vfor tiltingthelatteig. spring means',.liaxring.. one end. associated.

with said operative connection for mainby means ot a coiled taining said reflector in one' position, a sleeve mounted in said casing, a plunger eX- tendmgthrough said casing and slidable longitudinally of said sleeve .and thereinand limited -inmovementand engaging the other end of said bell crank, and lever means without the casing for actuating said plunger inopposition to said spring means.

Inv a lamp construction, thev combination of a lamp casing, a reflector pivotally supported therein,-a1:bell crank pivotally and eirt-ending'through said casing and lim-'-V Vited in movement,.rocking means without the casing,xand adjustable'means associated with said rocking means and engaging said plunger for'actuating said plunger in opposition to said spring means.

4:. In a lamp, the combination' with an outer casing, of a reflector therein, a pivotal mounting for said reflector within-said casing, a bracketfo'r supporting'said casing, Va

bell crank lever mounted on said bracket-inl the space between said casing `and said reflector, a push rod slidably engaging. a bearing in said bracket and in operative relation to one arm of saidbell crank, a link for connecting another' arm of said bell crank with said reflector to tilt the latter, and a spring connected to said link `for retracting the same and tilting said reflector in the opposite direction.

5. In a lamp, the combination with` a cas. ing, of a reflector within said casing, a

)ivotal mountino' for'said reflector a bracket for supporting said casing, a bell crank lever within the space between said casing and reflector, a lugV integral with said bracketV forming a fulcrum bearing for said bell crank lever, a link for connecting oneY arm of said bell Vcrank lever with lsaid reflector, a spring connected to said link and to said fulcruni bearing forretracting the former, a` push rod extending through said casing for actuating.- the other arm of said bell crank lever, and a-stop'for said push rodadjustable to-determine the normal posit-ion of said reflector.

.6.In a lampfthe.coinbinationwith an outer casing,.of 'a reflector therein, a pivotalV moiintingfor said reflector, a bracket.- for supportingsaid casing; having. a hollow shank through .which electrical connections may pass, abell` crank. lever. fulcrumed upon saidbracket inthe space betweensaid cas-1 ing and reflector, a link lfor connecting one arm of said bell crank lever with said reflector, an apertured arm projecting from said bracket, a push rod extending through the aperture in said arm in operative relation to an arm in said bell crank lever, a bearing sleeve for said push rod having a threaded engagement with an apertured arm i of said bracket to be adjustable therein, and a head on said push rod normally bearing on said adjustable sleeve, whereby the adjustment of said sleeve will determine the nor` mal angular position of said reflector.

7. ln a lamp, the combination with an outer casing, of a reflector therein, a pivotal mounting 'for said reflector, a bracket for supporting said casing havin a hollow shank for the passage of electrical conductors, arms formed integral with said bracket, one constituting a locking lug for the door of said casing and another being apertured, a bell crank lever fulcrumed upon said bracket in the space between said casing and reflector, a link connecting one arm of said bell crank lever with said reflector, a push rod passing through said apertured arm into operative relation to said bell crank lever, a bearing sleeve for said push rod having a threaded engagement with said apertured arm, a spring for actuating said link and bell crank lever counter to the push of said push rod, and a shoulder on said push rod for engaging said adjustable sleeve, whereby the adjustment of the latter will determine the fulcrum position of said reflector.

8. ln a lamp construction, the combination with a casing, o'f a reector pivotally mounted therein, lever mechanism for actuating said reflector, a. sprin for normally holding said lever mechanism in predetermined position, means for actuating said lever mechanism, and a supporting bracket for said casing forming a support for said actuating mechanism also.

9. In a lamp, the combination with an outer casing, of` a reflector pivotally mounted within said casing, a bracket on the periphery of said reflector, tilting mechanism for said reflector including a pivoted bell crank lever, link and a spring for normally holding them in predetermined position arranged between and independent of the casing and reflector and pivotally connected to said bracket, and a push rod extending out from said casing for actuating said lever mechanism.

10. In a lamp, the combination with a casing, of a reflector pivotally mounted within said casing, a bracket attached to said reflector, a link for tilting said reflector, a a pin pivotally connecting said bracket and link, a bell crank lever for actuating said link, a push member for actuating said link, and a spring connected to said pin and said bell crank for actuating said link in the opposite direction Without stress upon said reflector.

11. In a lamp construction, the combination with a casing, and an angularly adjustable reflector pivotally mounted therein, of mechanism within said casing and attached to said reflector for holding the same in predetermined angular relation relative to said casing, comprising a lever under spring tension tending to tilt said reflector in one direction, an adjustable bearing member and a member slidably mounted therein, engaging and limiting the movement of said levers and adapted to regulate the normal position of said reflector.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HARVEY L. WATSON. 

